Exelon Corporation

Engaging Communities

Exelon Corporation

Engaging Communities

The
Situation

Improving Health
and Emotional
Wellbeing

With the vision of creating the leading Mid-Atlantic electric and gas utility company, Exelon Corporation and Pepco Holdings Inc. (PHI) struck an agreement to join forces. However, after Exelon Corporation was twice denied an application for acquisition by the Public Service Commission (PSC) of the District of Columbia a new approach was needed to garner support. Exelon hired Octane Public Relations & Advertising to assist in the development and execution of a campaign to educate the public on the benefits of the merger. The campaign focused on the increased reliability to ratepayers and the increased investment and opportunity to Pepco and Washington, DC.

In April of 2016 the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia approved the merger of Exelon and PHI.

The
Process

Octane worked closely with Exelon to create a campaign that not only educated the residents of the District of Columbia about the benefits of the merger, but also provided a call to action. Residents were given information and a tangible way to demonstrate their support for the deal, by calling their city council members, attending hearings, and/or signing letters and petitions.

Octane’s comprehensive community engagement plan included a canvassing team, community events, town hall conversations, PSC hearings, and earned media.

Goals

Raise awareness about the merger

Educate DC residents about the benefits of the merger

Garner support for the merger

The
Results

As a result of Octane’s work engaging the community and creating a message that resonated with District residents and elected officials, there was a large show of support for the merger. Octane’s efforts lead to four published editorials in DC’s most inclusive and diverse publications, the Washington Blade, El Tiempo Latino, the Washington Informer and the Washington Afro-American.